Verb + 唔 + Complement

Long Potential (Cannot)

Level 3Sounds Like bou2 jyu5

The Long Potential (Negative) uses the structure Verb + 唔 (m4) + Complement to say that you cannot achieve a certain result, even if you try. It focuses on the outcome rather than general permission or ability.

How It Works

This pattern is a cornerstone of colloquial Cantonese. It is formed by taking a Resultative Verb Compound and inserting 唔 (m4) in the middle.

1. Structure:

  • Verb + 唔 + Resultative Complement: Focuses on the failure of a result. For example, 聽唔明 (ting3 m4 ming4) means 'cannot understand' (literally: listen-not-clear).
  • Verb + 唔 + Directional Complement: Focuses on the inability to move in a direction. For example, 行唔入 (haang4 m4 jap6) means 'cannot walk in' (perhaps because it's too crowded).

2. Nuance:
This pattern implies that the action is attempted, but the result is blocked by external factors or the nature of the task. It is much more specific than 可以 (ho2 ji5) or 識 (sik1).

3. The Affirmative:
To say you can achieve the result, you replace 唔 (m4) with 得 (dak1). For example, 聽得明 (ting3 dak1 ming4) means 'can understand'.

Examples (4)

  1. 我聽唔明你講乜嘢。

    I cannot understand what you are saying.

    Word by Word: I listen-not-clear you speak what thing.

    Here, 聽 (ting3) is the verb and 明 (ming4) is the resultative complement meaning 'clear/understand'. The 唔 (m4) indicates the result of understanding cannot be reached.

  2. 啲飯太多，我食唔晒。

    There is too much rice; I can't finish it all.

    Word by Word: [plural marker] rice too much, I eat-not-finish.

    The complement 晒 (saai3) means 'completely'. 食唔晒 (sik6 m4 saai3) specifically means you are unable to reach the state of 'completely finished'.

  3. 我搵唔到我條鎖匙。

    I can't find my keys.

    Word by Word: I find-not-attain my [classifier] key.

    The complement 到 (dou2) indicates successful attainment. 搵唔到 (wan2 m4 dou2) means the search was unsuccessful.

  4. 個盒太重，我搬唔起。

    The box is too heavy; I can't lift it up.

    Word by Word: The box too heavy, I move-not-up.

    搬 (bun1) is to move, and 起 (hei2) is the directional complement for 'up'. This shows physical inability to achieve the upward movement.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the negative particle before the verb.

    我唔聽明。
    我聽唔明。

    In Cantonese, simple negation (唔 + Verb) means you 'won't' or 'don't' do it. To express 'cannot achieve the result', the 唔 must be placed between the verb and the complement.

  • Using the Mandarin-style '不' (bat1) as the infix.

    我聽不明。
    我聽唔明。

    While '不' is used in written Chinese and Mandarin, it sounds very unnatural and 'bookish' in spoken Cantonese. Always use 唔 (m4) in this potential construction.

  • Adding 'can' (ho2 ji5) redundantly.

    我唔可以食唔晒。
    我食唔晒。

    The 'cannot' meaning is already built into the V+唔+C structure. Adding 可以 (ho2 ji5) makes the sentence redundant and confusing.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Verb + 唔 + ComplementLevel 3Long Potential (Cannot)

Learn This First

To understand the negative long potential (V-唔-Complement), you first need to understand Resultative Verb Compounds (V+C), as this pattern splits those compounds. You also need to be familiar with the basic negator '唔' and the affirmative version of this potential structure using '得'.

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